Team Bio

Dr. Hilton J. LaSalle III

Executive Summary

Dr. Hilton J. LaSalle III is a veteran higher education leader and Professor of Psychology with over 30 years of administrative and instructional leadership experience. Throughout his career, he has specialized in bridging the gap between education and technology to maximize student engagement. A dedicated advocate for faculty development and student success, Dr. LaSalle has built robust certification programs for adjunct professors and established key mentorship networks supporting young male achievement in higher education.

Academic & Administrative Experience

Dr. LaSalle has held numerous diverse leadership and teaching roles across several colleges and universities, spanning Psychology (PSYC), Criminal Justice (CRIJ), Sociology (SOCI), and Research. His leadership footprint includes:

• Faculty Leadership: Served as Faculty Senate President and Department Chair.

• Program Coordination: Directed Online Learning and served as a Distance Education Administrator.

• Faculty Development: Developed and facilitated the Adjunct Certification Program and Online Teaching Certification.

• Student Services: Practiced as an Associate Professor and Counselor.

Education & Credentials

• Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (Higher Education) | Sam Houston State University

• Ph.D. Studies (12 credits in Leadership & Research) | Louisiana State University

• M.A. in Mental Health Counseling | Southern University A. & M. College

• B.S. in Electronic Engineering Technology | Texas Southern University

• Licensure: Former Licensed Professional Counselor Intern (State of Louisiana).

Community Impact & Student Mentorship

Deeply invested in community uplift and student equity, Dr. LaSalle focuses heavily on building resources for underrepresented groups:

• Male Achievement Initiatives: Serves as an advisor for several young college male programs, focusing on education, leadership development, and career guidance in the Houston and New Orleans areas.

• Campus Advocacy: Acted as Chairman for the Higher Education Disability Network (Gulf Coast Region) and Faculty Advisor for the Brother for Brother student organization.

• Committee Leadership: Co-chaired committees for the Foundation of Excellence (Transition and Learning Dimensions) and served on the Black Male Summit committee.

Selected Publications & Presentations

Dr. LaSalle’s research highlights equity, student relationships, and virtual learning environments:

• Social Justice Research: Co-authored Hidden curriculum in SAT entrance exam: Leadership implications for building the social and cultural capital of first-generation college students (2013).

• Student Success Studies: Presented data-driven research comparing the on-campus relationships of first-generation and non-first-generation college students at the Southwestern Educational Research Association.

• Innovation in Teaching: Frequently co-presents at national conferences, including the League for Innovation and the Instructional Technology Council, on topics like “Preparing Faculty to Teach Online.”

Awards & Affiliations

• Recognitions: Recipient of the SHSU Jackson Scholar Award, International Scholar Recipient, and the Jackie Merchant Memorial Leadership Award.

• Memberships: Proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Texas Southern University Alumni Association, and Founding Member of the Krewe of Pours.

Dr. Leonard N. Garrett

Executive Summary

Dr. Leonard N. Garrett is a seasoned higher education administrator, educator, and former professional athlete with over 35 years of senior-level management and policy experience. Known as a relationship-driven leader and dedicated student advocate, Dr. Garrett specializes in campus operations, strategic enrollment management, multi-million dollar budgeting, and large-scale facility design. His transformative, team-based approach has consistently driven student retention, community partnerships, and record-breaking institutional growth.

Executive Leadership Experience

Dr. Garrett has directed complex campus operations, managing budgets up to $10.5 million and supervising diverse staffs of up to 150 members across several major institutions:

• Vice President for Student Services & Enrollment Management | Mountain View College (2007 – 2021)

  • Overcame complex organizational challenges to drive key enrollment and growth.

  • Directed daily operations for Financial Aid, Advising, Veteran Affairs, Athletics, and Title IX compliance.

• Vice Chancellor-Provost | Louisiana Technical College, Greater Central LA District VI (2003 – 2007)

  • Strategically steered six regional campuses, managing 2,500 students annually and leading forward-thinking industry research.

• Founding Leader & Dean | Baton Rouge Community College (1996 – 2003)

  • Served as Dean of the Frazier Campus, Dean of Student Services, and Executive Assistant to the Chancellor.

  • Formulated the College Master Plan and managed the daily design and construction of the physical campus.

  • Launched the college with a record enrollment of 1,900 students (shattering the state's projection of 700).

• Dean of Student Affairs | Southeastern Louisiana University (1990 – 1996)

  • Spearheaded student programming for a population of 13,500, launched a critical student retention program, and drove a $10 million Student Union capital outlay project.

Unique Background: From the NFL to Academia

Prior to his distinguished career in education, Dr. Garrett spent more than six years as a professional athlete in the National Football League (NFL). He brings the teamwork, coaching mentality, and high-performance drive from his time with the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and San Francisco 49ers (1971–1976) straight into academic leadership.

Education & Specialized Training

• Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration | University of Southern Mississippi

• M.Ed. in Guidance Counseling | New Mexico Highlands University

• B.A. in Secondary Education / Political Science | New Mexico Highlands University

• Fellowships & Advanced Training:

  • American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program (Middle Tennessee State University)

  • League for Innovation Executive Leadership Institute

  • Advanced training in Strategic Planning, Outcomes Assessment, and Workforce Development.

Professional Board Leadership & Affiliations

Dr. Garrett actively lends his expertise to prominent local, state, and national boards:

• La Capitol Federal Credit Union: Board Member (1996 – Present)

• National Football League Players Association (NFLPA): Active Member

• LA Association of College & University Student Personnel Administrators: Past President

• National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA): Former State Director

• Civic Engagement: Rotary Club of Alexandria and the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce

Faculty Experience & Presentations

Dr. Garrett has shared his insights as an adjunct faculty member at Louisiana State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and Baton Rouge Community College. He is a frequent regional speaker on topics such as:

• “The Role of Community Colleges in Louisiana”

• “Links Between Two-Year and Four-Year Colleges within a Transformation Environment”

• “Institutional Effectiveness and Planning”

Dr. Jerica C. Nickerson

Executive Summary: 

Dr. Jerica C. Nickerson is an accomplished higher education executive, instructional leader, scholar, and educator with more than a decade of progressive leadership experience spanning K-12 education, community colleges, and university settings. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to student access, academic excellence, workforce development, faculty empowerment, and organizational transformation. Her leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, innovation, inclusivity, and data-informed decision-making to improve student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

Currently serving as Interim Vice President of Instruction and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Nickerson provides executive leadership for all instructional areas, including academic transfer programs, workforce education, and continuing education. As a member of the President’s Executive Cabinet, she oversees a nearly $43 million instructional budget, leads a team of instructional deans and academic leaders, and ensures compliance with state and regional accreditation standards. Her work includes advancing strategic priorities, strengthening faculty development initiatives, enhancing student retention and completion efforts, and cultivating partnerships with community organizations, business leaders, and system stakeholders.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Nickerson served as Dean of Instruction, where she led workforce and academic programs in Business Administration, Accounting, Data Analytics, CISCO Networking, Electrical Technology, ESOL, and related academic disciplines. During her tenure, she achieved significant enrollment growth, increasing enrollment by more than 28% across multiple semesters. She launched innovative initiatives such as the Creekside Wolfpack Academy, a student-centered cohort model that combined mentorship, scholarships, structured scheduling, textbook-free learning, and timely graduation pathways. She also expanded workforce programming, advocated for additional faculty and student support positions, strengthened community partnerships, and helped align academic offerings with workforce demands.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Nickerson served as Department Chair, Lead Faculty, and Professor of Speech Communication, providing leadership across multiple academic disciplines and supporting the professional growth of faculty members. She supervised large adjunct faculty teams, facilitated curriculum development, championed innovative instructional practices, and contributed to student success initiatives that improved persistence and completion rates. Her commitment to faculty development led to the creation of adjunct training programs, resource guides, and professional development opportunities that enhanced teaching effectiveness across the institution.

A respected educator, Dr. Nickerson has taught in face-to-face, hybrid, and online environments at multiple institutions, including community colleges and universities. She currently serves as an adjunct instructor in Organizational Leadership and Applied Communication at Abilene Christian University, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate students while contributing to curriculum development and program assessment. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes engagement, accessibility, innovation, and the cultivation of meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for academic and professional success.

Dr. Nickerson earned a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Arts in Communication from Texas Southern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Houston. Her educational background reflects a unique blend of leadership, communication, and behavioral science expertise that informs her administrative and instructional work.

As a scholar and thought leader, Dr. Nickerson’s research focuses on leadership development, mentorship, diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Her published research, “Black Women in Higher Education Leadership: A Phenomenological Research Study Examining Their Utilization of Cross-Race and Cross-Gender Mentorship,” contributes to the growing body of literature on leadership advancement and mentoring relationships. She has presented at national conferences and professional development events on topics including mentorship, online teaching and learning, student engagement, educational equity, leadership development, and faculty success.

Throughout her career, Dr. Nickerson has served in numerous institutional leadership roles, including Co-Chair of the Core Curriculum Taskforce, Faculty Senate Vice President and Treasurer, Faculty Mentor, Adjunct Certification Program Facilitator, Strategic Planning Committee Chair, and President of the inaugural chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. These roles have allowed her to influence institutional policy, strengthen governance processes, and promote collaborative decision-making across colleges and systems.

Her contributions have been recognized through numerous awards and honors, including the NISOD Excellence Award, Faculty Excellence Award, AAWCC Under 40 Award, Leadership Academy distinctions, and Teacher of the Year recognitions. These accolades reflect her unwavering commitment to excellence in teaching, leadership, service, and student advocacy.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Dr. Nickerson remains deeply engaged in community service and civic leadership. She serves on nonprofit boards, volunteers with scholarship and youth-focused organizations, and actively supports initiatives that promote educational attainment, mentorship, leadership development, and community empowerment. Her dedication to service reflects a lifelong commitment to creating opportunities for others and fostering positive change within educational institutions and communities alike.

Executive Leadership Profile

Dr. Jerica C. Nickerson is a transformational higher education executive whose career reflects a powerful combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, academic leadership, and a passion for student success. Through innovative programming, collaborative leadership, and an unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion, she has consistently advanced institutional goals while creating pathways for students, faculty, and communities to thrive. Her professional journey exemplifies the impact of servant leadership, continuous improvement, and a belief that education remains one of the most powerful tools for personal and societal transformation.